Pop star Rihanna called her recent musical collaboration with ex-boyfriend Chris Brown “innocent,” after critics and fans split on the duo working together three years after Brown assaulted the pop star.

“We did two records, one for my fans and one for his fans, and that way our fans can come together. There shouldn’t be a divide, you know, it’s music and it’s innocent,” Rihanna told Ryan Seacrest on his syndicated morning radio show on Thursday.

Rihanna provided vocals on a remix of Brown’s new dance song “Turn Up The Music” while Brown lent his voice to Rihanna’s sexually-charged “Birthday Cake.” Both tracks were released last month after the Grammy awards on February 12.

“I thought about rappers and I’ve done that so many times, and the hottest R&B artist out right now is Chris Brown, so I wanted him on the track,” she added.

Brown nearly derailed his career three years ago on the night before the Grammys, after he was arrested for beating up his then-girlfriend, Rihanna. Since that time he has tried to rehabilitate himself in the eyes of fans with mixed results.

The musical reunion of Rihanna and Brown had social networks abuzz as fans split on the pair working together with some making cynical comments, others calling it a publicity stunt and many embracing the new songs.

Chris Brown’s GF is scared to leave her house without tough bodyguards by her side — and she’s telling friends, it’s all because Rihanna’s crazy fans are threatening to kill her.

In case you missed it — there was a lot of speculation last week that Rihanna dissed Karrueche Tran on Twitter — posting a pic of a bag of rice cakes wearing sunglasses … with the caption, “Ima a make u my bitch.” The joke — Karrueche’s Vietnamese … rice cakes … etc. You get it?

But several of Rihanna’s fans took the joke one step too far — unleashing an avalanche of violent threats on Karrueche … like “I hope Rihanna beat the dog shit outa yo ass!” … “Watch yo back” … and “I will kill you.”

Rihanna never admitted the rice cake jab was directed at Karrueche — but sources close to Karrueche tell TMZ, she now refuses to leave her house without Chris Brown’s hired muscle by her side. As for Karrueche’s infamous BF — we’re told Chris Brown is 100% supportive of his new lady … despite getting close with Rihanna recently … and is urging her not to worry.

The real lesson here that all the ladies have to learn — don’t date Chris Brown.